Thursday, July 05, 2007

Tourism industry in Sarawak affected by rural flight woes

By George Francis

MIRI - Intensive campaigns must be carried out to increase tourist arrivals to Sarawak's nature attractions following flight woes of rationalisation exercise since August 1 last year, said Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim.

"The Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) has to work on a recovery strategy with our counterparts and from my ministry to bring back tourists," he said after meeting with tour operators here.

He predicted once a new airline system takes over the Rural Air Service (RAS), it would take another six months to a year for the tourism sector to get back on its track.

He said the operators complained about flight cancellations and uncertainties, and about public criticisms against the RAS provided by Fly Asian Express (FAX).

Lim also made a trip to Mulu National Park - a world heritage site - with MPs and senators from the peninsula to have a first-hand knowledge on the state's tourism products.

The Mulu Resort also complained of its two years' profit all gone because of flight woes.